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About the Prague Summer Film Program

The Prague Summer Film Program is an intensive course in production that offers Emerson film students an unparalleled experience. The Academy of Performing Arts (FAMU) is one of Europe's oldest and finest film academies and is rated one of the top film schools in the world. FAMU alumni include famous writers and directors Jiri Menzel, Milan Kundera, Milos Forman, Vaclav Havel, and Agnieszka Holland, among many others.

Students who participate in the program should be highly motivated and able to manage their expectations and work collaboratively with other students. Every student will depart the program with a film. Students will be registered for two courses for a total of 8 VMA credits, which will fulfill 4 credits of elective and 4 credits toward the media studies requirement.

Prague Summer 2014 class in front of Barrandov Studios

All participants meet regularly with FAMU professors and mentors. Students should be prepared to work at a fast pace while managing production training, class lectures, group excursions, and everyday life in the city of Prague. Students who are most successful in this program are independent, hard-working, open-minded, and willing to change course on a minute's notice. Students learn through the production process itself, class lectures, and on-site workshops. Courses are taught in English.

The first course in Cinematic Language is a production course that involves an intensive, week-long lighting and cinematography workshop on a soundstage and the scripting, casting, location scouting, acting, shooting, directing, and editing of a 5- to 7-minute HD production. FAMU and Emerson College faculty will evaluate students.

The second course is a film studies course on the history and development of Czech and Slovak cinema with emphasis on the Czech New Wave, one of the most influential film movements of the post–World War II era. Special tours and lectures are planned at Barrandov Studios, Jiri Trnka’s Animation Studios and a two-night excursion to the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF). Additional lectures and discussions will feature Czech film directors. Past guest speakers have included Jiri Menzel, Jaromil Jires, Alice Nellis, Jiri Barta, and Jan Nemec.

Faculty

An Emerson College faculty member will supervise students in their academic studies and travel. In addition, lectures are scheduled with film historians Dr. Michal Bregant and Dr. Jan Bernard and FAMU Cinematography Professor Michal Gahut, Pavel Marek, and Marek Jicha.

Travel Opportunities

Travel is a meaningful part of the educational experience in this program. Students will attend the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) as well as tour the historic North Bohemian district. This festival is one of the oldest film festivals in Europe, and ranks alongside Venice and Cannes. KVIFF annually presents more than 200 new films from all over the world. In addition to travel to Karlovy Vary, students will travel to Terezin Concentration Camp and the medieval town of Litoměřice.

Students will spend two nights in the Bohemian spa town of Karlovy Vary, attending the world-famous Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, the oldest in Europe.